•How much do the exams cost?

For each course you take with us, we will offer an exam code at a discounted rate of $75. The exams will regularly cost between $150 and $200.

•Do I have to take a class in order to take the test?

No, you do not. However, taking the course provides one on one time with experienced instructors who can offer their expertise, and the opportunity to follow practical exercises with the subject matter specifically engineered to illustrate the points being tested upon in the exam questions.

How do I keep track of my certifications?

Log in to the Apple Certifications page (https://certifications.apple.com/) and enter your AppleID. You should see your current certifications, and your TechID. The TechID is used by Prometrics to syndicate your results to the Apple Certification engine.

Please ensure to always log in using the same AppleID, as often times certifications require two or more exams. Taking exams based off multiple TechIDs will not allow your certifications to build properly.

•Why does my Apple Certifications page show so many other entries "In Progress"?

Many certifications require multiple exams to complete them. Please see the links below for specific information about each certification.

When you take an exam that could potentially take you down a path towards a greater certification the page will show you that path as being "In Progress". Consider it an encouragement to learn more and achieve a higher certification!

•How does AppleCare certification work?

There are two courses/exams required to complete the ACMT certification: an OS exam on troubleshooting Mac OS X, and a Service exam on the hardware repair. We offer Apple Certified training courses in preparation for each exam.

Mac OS X v10.5 Troubleshooting Exam (9L0-061) - Tests practical knowledge of Mac OS X emphasizing troubleshooting of Mac OS X version 10.5, and applies knowledge of Mac OS X 10.5 toward identifying common Mac OS X issues. A two-day course covers the essentials of Leopard as it applies towards this exam, with time scheduled in to take the test.

Apple Macintosh Service Exam (9L0-006) - Tests practical knowledge of effectively and safely troubleshooting and repairing Apple Macintosh systems, including displays. A five-day course covers each of the exam's objective sections, provides access to all systems needed to diagnose and troubleshoot a Macintosh system and offers practical laboratory time with machines.

The relevant exam is scheduled in the final day of training for either the Leopard Troubleshooting course, or the Apple Macintosh Service course. A separate fee (link) will apply for the exam code.

We will require that applicants attending the Apple Macintosh Service course have completed the Leopard Troubleshooting course, or have equivalent knowledge. There is too much information to cover to allow for remediation during class time.

•What's new about AppleCare certification?

Previously there were separate certifications for Portables and Desktop machines. As of January 2008 those are combined into the Apple Certified Macintosh Technician (ACMT). This one hardware exam will qualify certified technicians to work on all currently supported Macintosh computers.

Also, the OS portion of the certification has changed as well. Under the Tiger 10.4 model, the IT certification exam MacOS 101 could fulfill the AppleCare OS requirement. That is no longer the case. The Leopard101 exam does not qualify for AppleCare OS requirement. Only the Mac OS X v10.5 Troubleshooting Exam (9L0-061) will fulfill the AppleCare requirement.

•How do I order parts for AppleCare warranty repair once I get Hardware certified?

Once you achieve certification, you will need to gain access to a GSX account in order to do warrantee work. This is normally provided by the company you work for.

Creating a GSX Account (link to www.apple.com—programs) will allow you to order the parts and gain access to the specialized tools available only to repair centers.

•How do I get to ACTC/ACSA for Leopard?

training.apple.com—actc

- two exams

- Support Essentials

- Server Essentials

training.apple.com—acsa - Equivalent to MCSE or CCNA in technical requirements.

- four exams

- Server Essentials

- Directory Services

- Deployment

- Advanced System Admin (new course)

•how do i prepare for the test?

To be perfectly honest, these exams are tough. They are written to ensure that you really know your stuff. For each test linked above (under ACTC/ACSA) there will be links to two kinds of files:

1 - The Skills Assessment Guide (SAG) - which breaks down the exam into a list of objectives being tested upon. It will tell you how many questions there will be, what score you need to pass, what sections there will be and how the test will be weighted in those sections. It's as closest thing to giving the answers away as we can do.

2 - Practice Tests - which give you an idea of the tone of questions, and the sorts of things they may ask for.

Also, look in the review sections in the books that come with the class. They are also written from the same set of objectives.

•How long do my IT certifications last for?

The current IT certifications are based up on Mac OS X Leopard, and do not expire. They are designed to cover the life of that product. Once the new version of Mac OS X is released, then new versions of these certifications will be produced. This does not negate your certifications of previous versions of Mac OS X, just that as time goes on fewer users will be employing that version.

•How long does my AppleCare certification last for?

AppleCare certifications work slightly differently than the IT certifications.

The OS Troubleshooting exam for the ACMT certification follows the above model, and lasts for the life of the relevant version of Mac OS X. Mac OS X Leopard will be in large part pretty much the same from the time it is released until it is replaced by 10.6.

Computer hardware, however, changes dramatically on a rapid basis. Every two or three months tends to reveal upgrades to Apple hardware in subtle or dramatic ways. Due to this fact, the Service exam expires yearly and will require re-certification every year.